#startupcatalyst

[bjmaca]

This weeks Awesome Human is a re-edit of the pilot podcast with @ajbirkby . A great bloke and award winning entrepreneur. Enjoy his story http://bit.ly/2JT8DZs #startupcatalyst #entrepreneur #rivercitylabs #awesomehuman #media8 (at Gold Coast, Queensland)

[krissy-ofarrell-travel-blog]

And I’m off again, thanks to the 2015 Startup Catalyst Mission

This September/October I will be hitting up Silicon Valley with 19 other likeminded-entrepreneurs for 10 days, during which we will be visiting global tech companies, meeting young entrepreneurs (some Aussie's too apparently!) and we will have the chance to attend networking and educational events with startup founders and student entrepreneurs. 

I am beyond excited for this opportunity and am still super pumped that I was selected. Many friends and acquaintances have been asking how I heard about Startup Catalyst, my skill sets, and why I was chosen. So I thought I would provide some insight into this. 

Skill-set

Okay to start off with, my technical skills are as follows: font-end web development (HTML5, CSS3, JS), basic application and script writing (C#, Python), databases (data models, MySQL, PostgreSQL, sqliteman), and very basic backend web development skills (PHP and obviously SQL). In addition to my technical skills, I am really interested in business processes but more importantly, I am extremely motivated, driven, and passionate about technology and continuously learning and expanding my skills.   

Application Process

Firstly, I found out about the Startup Catalyst initiative because one of my friends went on the trip last year, had a blast and learnt a lot. So all throughout this year I had been checking the website every few months to see if applications were open. One day I checked the site and applications were open, so I applied. Website is the following for future reference: www.startupcatalyst.com.au

When I applied for the mission, I wasn’t sure how far I would progress in the application process but I thought there is no harm in putting an application in for the experience, if nothing else. For this initial written application, I was required to answer several questions about my technical knowledge, experience, passion for startups (duh), and general information about myself. 

I found out that I had been shortlisted to the top 30 or so and I was psyched. I couldn’t believe my luck. Anyway, I attended the interview and I wasn’t really sure how it went. I felt intimidated initially by the number of interviewers in the room, however everyone was really friendly so I was able to adapt to the situation quickly. I had a throat and ear infection so was feeling pretty bleh, but had hoped I had communicated my passion for technology, startups and how my skill-set was relevant enough.  

Two days later i got an email congratulating me on being selected. I started crying, I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I had been selected along with 19 other incredibly talented entrepreneurs and it felt surreal. I would be in elite, local company over the next few months and I was feeling ecstatic. 

Now

It is now 16 days since being accepted and I am still feeling pumped and excited. Since accepting this opportunity I have met several of the other participants and have been in regular contact with the others most days on Slack (team collaboration tool). I am so honoured to be going on this trip and the other participants and trip facilitators inspire and motivate me.